Meeting of July 27, 2021
7-27-21 Ohio Co. Fiscal Court Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
Ohio County Fiscal Court – July 27, 2021
The court handled a routine slate of administrative business, including approval of minutes, bills/claims, an updated treasurer's report, a raise in the inmate labor pay cap, and a second reading/roll call on a budget amendment. Several routine settlement acknowledgments (UMC, property tax, oil and gas, franchise, unmined coal) were also approved.
The centerpiece of the meeting was a required public hearing on a proposed Ohio County Water District intake line rebuild, a roughly $2.2 million project to replace a failing 450-foot intake line on the Green River near Cromwell. The county is applying for $1 million in CDBG funds, with the remainder financed through a KIA low-interest state revolving loan and some county water district funds. Several related CDBG and hazard mitigation resolutions were adopted, along with authorization for staff to sign related documents.
A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to debating and adopting a COVID-19 (Delta variant) workplace response policy. After extended discussion about fairness to employees sent home due to exposure versus those who are sick, the court approved a policy allowing employees who test positive for COVID to work from home if possible, and allowing borrowing against future vacation/personal leave up to 10 days if needed, effective through the end of October.
The court also approved an updated county needs assessment list for road and other projects, and Magistrate Barnes reported on the effectiveness of roadside spraying versus mowing as a cost- and time-saving measure. The judge urged residents to get vaccinated, citing high rates of severe illness among the unvaccinated, and reminded the public of a suicide-awareness event at the high school that evening. The meeting closed with reminders about upcoming ARPA-related discussions at the next meeting.
Agenda (31)
- 0:04
Call to order, prayer and pledge
Judge called the meeting to order and Anne Melton led the prayer and pledge.
- 1:14
Approval of minutes
The court approved the minutes of the July 13th meeting.
- 1:38
Bills, claims, payments and transfers
The court approved payment of bills, claims, and transfers.
- 2:15
Annual treasurer settlement
The treasurer's annual settlement was acknowledged, subject to audit.
- 2:43
Annual review presented by treasurer
The court approved the treasurer's annual review.
- 3:28
Inmate labor pay cap increase
The court raised the pay limit for inmates working jobs from ten dollars due to inflation.
- 4:01
Budget amendment second reading
The court conducted a second reading and roll call vote on budget amendment 2021-2021.
- 5:37
Public hearing: Ohio County Water District intake line rebuild CDBG project
A required public hearing was held on a CDBG-funded project to rebuild a failing water intake line on the Green River, with costs estimated at $2.2 million funded through CDBG, a KIA revolving loan, and water district funds.
- 11:47
Detention center FY2021 commissary acknowledgment
The court acknowledged the detention center's FY2021 commissary book being turned over to the judge.
- 12:28
2020 UMC settlement acknowledgment
The court acknowledged the 2020 UMC settlement.
- 13:45
Property tax settlement acknowledgment
The court accepted the property tax settlement, noting property tax was up while tangible was down.
- 14:30
Oil and gas settlement acknowledgment
The court acknowledged the oil and gas settlement.
- 14:54
Franchise settlement acknowledgment
The court acknowledged the 2020 franchise settlement.
- 15:30
Unmined coal settlement acknowledgment
The court acknowledged the unmined coal settlement from 2020.
- 16:35
Resolution: inundation mapping (FEMA)
The court approved a resolution related to FEMA inundation mapping tied to the water project.
- 17:05
Resolution 2022-2: OCWD intake rebuild CDBG project
The court approved the CDBG resolution for the water intake rebuild project, with a roll call vote.
- 18:00
Resolution 2022-3: Utility assistance CDBG draft #1
The court approved the first utility assistance CDBG resolution.
- 18:34
Resolution 2022-4: Utility assistance CDBG draft #2
The court approved the second utility assistance CDBG resolution.
- 18:57
Resolution 2022-5: Utility assistance CDBG draft #3
The court approved the third utility assistance CDBG resolution.
- 19:21
Resolution 2022-6: Utility assistance CDBG draft #4
The court approved the fourth utility assistance CDBG resolution.
- 20:10
Resolution 2022-7: Hazard mitigation plan
The court approved the hazard mitigation resolution that had not yet been addressed.
- 20:57
Authorization to sign CDBG-related documents
The court authorized staff to sign all corresponding documents related to the CDBG utility assistance resolutions without separate approval for each.
- 21:29
COVID-19 Delta variant workplace protocol
After lengthy debate on fairness to employees, the court adopted a COVID-19 response protocol allowing employees who test positive to work from home when possible and to borrow against future leave up to 10 days, effective through October, with an amendment addressing healthy employees sent home.
- 37:45
Needs assessment committee report and list approval
The needs assessment committee presented an updated project funding list, which the court approved by roll call vote.
- 38:49
Mental health/suicide awareness committee report
A magistrate announced a suicide awareness event at the high school that evening with a guest speaker.
- 40:28
Equipment evaluation committee charge
The judge charged the equipment evaluation committee to assess road department equipment needs within the next two meetings.
- 40:54
ARPA committee meeting reminder
The judge reminded attendees of an upcoming ARPA funds committee meeting.
- 41:48
COVID-19 update from judge
The judge gave an update on rising Delta variant cases, noting 91% of new cases are unvaccinated, and urged vaccination.
- 45:07
Magistrates' comments and requests
Magistrates discussed checking on elderly neighbors during the heat and reported on effectiveness of roadside spraying versus mowing.
- 49:09
Jail study update
The judge gave a brief update on the ongoing jail study, noting payment had been made and work was proceeding.
- 49:43
Public comments and adjournment
No further public comments were offered, and the meeting was adjourned with a reminder of the next meeting.
Motions & votes (23)
- 1:17
passedApprove minutes of the July 13th meeting
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Jason Bullock
- 1:49
passedApprove bills, claims, payments and transfers
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 2:27
passedAcknowledge annual treasurer settlement
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Butler (Couch)
- 2:48
passedApprove annual review presented by the treasurer
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Joe (March/Barnes)
- 3:36
passedRaise inmate labor pay limit to ten dollars
seconded by Joe Barnes
- 4:07
passedSecond reading of budget amendment 2021-2021
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Larry (Couch) · unanimous by roll call
- 12:15
passedAcknowledge FY2021 detention center commissary book turnover
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Obama (unclear name)
- 13:11
passedAcknowledge 2020 UMC settlement
- 13:45
passedAccept property tax settlement
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Sam Small
- 14:30
passedAcknowledge oil and gas settlement
seconded by Larry (Town/Cam)
- 14:57
passedAcknowledge 2020 franchise settlement
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 15:30
unclearAcknowledge unmined coal settlement from 2020
- 16:52
passedApprove FEMA inundation mapping resolution
- 17:16
passedApprove resolution 2022-2 CDBG intake rebuild project
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Jason Bullock · roll call
- 18:00
passedApprove utility assistance CDBG resolution 2022-3
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Larry (Pam)
- 18:31
passedApprove utility assistance CDBG resolution 2022-4
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Larry (Kam)
- 18:55
passedApprove utility assistance CDBG resolution 2022-5
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Obama (unclear)
- 19:19
passedApprove utility assistance CDBG resolution 2022-6
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Larry (Camp)
- 20:22
passedApprove hazard mitigation resolution 2022-7
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Larry (Kam)
- 20:53
passedAuthorize signing of all corresponding CDBG documents
seconded by Joe Barnes
- 33:05
tabledInitial motion to accept coronavirus response allowing sick employees to take work home
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Larry Camp
- 35:54
passedWithdrawal of prior motion and new motion to accept COVID protocol with amendment addressing healthy employees sent home
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 38:20
passedPresent and approve updated needs assessment list
roll call: Bullock yes, Barnes yes, Johnston yes, Couch yes, Small yes
Transcript (41 segments)
- 0:02
[Music] go ahead hello speaking of how i came fiscal court to order on this 27th day of july 2021 at 5 00 pm i'm going to ask anne melton to lead us in a prayer and pledge the flag our heavenly father we want to thank you for this day you've given us and watch over our country as well as the world as we seem to be going through another coveted crisis and help everyone to stay calm watch over these elected officials that are working hard to take care of our county in your name we pray amen amen and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all [Music] uh gentlemen before you you have the minutes of the july 13th meeting
- 1:14
we need a motion motion motion small second to jason bullock i guess there any discussion questions or our auditions exactly again questions corrections or editions i'll just do it just leave those uh being done on facebook post black sign most characters before you have the bills claims payments and transfers is there a light list in there no with no likelihood [Music] second i have a motion to sound small second by joe barnes is there any questions on the bills claims payments and transfers i'm a discussion actually discussion on the bill's claim to payments for transfers being done i'm very say ah close like sam the bills are paid the annual treasure settlement of course that's subject to audit don't make a motion do we just need to approve i mean that we acknowledge we
- 2:27
acknowledge emotion by jason's book second butler count is there any discussion or questions for our treasure bing none on favor say i post black sign motion carries the annual review of presented by the treasurer i'll make a motion to it a motion by sam small second segment joe march is there any discussion or question strand on that big nine on folks like sign motion carries uh item number six uh some of you uh don't know about this and some may not but anyway we have a limit on what our leadership team can pay when they're working inmates on the job and we need because of inflation we're needing to raise that two ten ten dollars emotionally i can say second with joe barnes is there any discussion
- 3:40
any discussion vietnam on favor say aye all right post like sound motion carries oh we'll get some more minutes uh-oh i hope that's a misprint miranda yeah do we need to prove them again no okay we did a a budget amendment at the last meeting uh 2022-1 we need to do a second a reading on that budget amendment i'll make a motion closer to sam small second by larry county is there any discussion being none on favor say aye aye opposed like sign motion carries everybody voted for it uh it's miranda i know you gotta put that down like it was uh no call but everybody said yes yeah this is probably better can you roll call it you know it should be a roll call we had the papers in here too so technically we needed no i need it for a second i need a second every time we do a reading i need real calls we can yeah what are you talking about working something else yeah
- 4:52
okay no we got that [Music] yes small yes uh mike you got the sign you got the signatures and everything but officially i guess uh just say a couple words for to satisfy this public hearing so we're listening to you all right and we'll have ordinances i mean uh resolutions pertaining to what he's telling you about here they're inside your opponent so the purposes of this hearing is to provide information to the public concerning the proposed ohio county water district intake line rebuild community development block grant project and to obtain a fuse on housing and community development needs this required public hearing also serves to inform low and moderate income persons that there is technical assistance available through the green river area development district in developing grant proposals for the cdbg
- 6:05
program there are essentially four main types of cdbg projects public facilities economic development housing and community facilities for kentucky in 2021 the total available funds are 25 million six hundred and eighteen thousand and eight million two hundred and ninety two thousand of that amount is set aside for public facilities projects under which this water line falls so this project entails rebuilding the current 450 linear foot ductile iron intake line at river road in cromwell the current line is failing and physically falling apart it includes the construction of two new submerged intake screening structures installation of a 20 inch ball joint supply lines construction of elevated valve access platform assembly of the two intake screenings on the green river construction of a micropile foundation for the intake screening assemblies connection to the existing supply line and erosion control and bank stabilization the estimated construction cost is 2.2 million
- 7:19
the county is applying for 1 million through the cdbg program with the remaining balance provided through a kia state revolving loan fund at one percent interest for 30 years and then some cost borne by the ohio county water district the cvg funds are available through the housing and urban development administration the federal program and the uniform displacement act does apply to this project the county does not anticipate any resident being displaced due to activities of this project for a copy of that uniform displacement act an individual can contact the green river area development district or the department for local government and then last or to entertain any comments or questions from the audience thank you i have a question the one percent now who's responsible for the one percent the one the one million at one percent through the other the one million uh the it's the revolving loan fund i'll let eric speak to how the you're handling the financing so that's who you guys uh yeah kind of proud of that project
- 8:35
it's very important to the county to assure that we continue to get water and with the rochester dam the new dam will be complete before this year is out uh that's gonna and and where it and this intake our water system's going to be in good shape for many years so that's uh that's a good thing uh when this came to our county to look at through grad uh what's what's the name of the points i was able to give the project to elevate uh the uh oh my gosh uh the boost uh the votes the boost yeah i gave that project a boost with what i had to sure that it made top of our list for the camp it's it's vital to our system yeah uh it's our main source of water river 2019 um we had an inspection done by our diving team not our team but contractor and they found a separation in a pipe and they were finding large rocks in our wet well so it could be a catastrophic failure if that pipe pulls apart we would have to mobilize pumps